Four hundred nurses in a large community hospital in Casper, Wyoming, USA have been involved in the implementation of a Caring Science program since 2005. This research trajectory of Caring Science that is using a longitudinal research design began by measuring nurse’s perceived competence in caring using the Caring Efficacy Scale in 2005. Measurement of patient’s perception of caring was begun in 2008 by using the Caring Factor Survey based on Watson’s Theory of Caritas. Now in 2012, the measurement of self-care has begun. According to Watson’s Theory of Caritas, caring for others must begin by caring for self.

The Integrative Health and Wellness Assessment (IHWA)* was used to assess eight concepts of self-care as proposed by integrative nurse coach experts Barbara Dossey, Susan Luck and Bonney Gulino Schaub. The IHWA assesses ten concepts of self-care (Life Balance and Satisfaction, Relationships, Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, Physical (Nutrition, Exercise, Weight), Environment, Health Responsibility). Over the last 23 years, it has been refined based on respondent feedback and associated theoretical evolution proposed by Dr. Dossey.

The survey assesses both current and desired state of self-care. Each of the eight concepts ends with asking the respondent to list three things they can do for self-care that relates to the concept of self-care on that page of the survey. This session will review staff variance of current to desired state and identify the most commonly reported self-care strategies of the 400 nurses from this study.